William Henry Johnson
1901-1970
Interior of a Ballroom
1939-1942
wax pastel on Hahnemuhle paper
12 x 19 inches
signed verso
marked with estate stamp: Tilhorer Niels Lindberg. Nr.Broby. Fyn. (From the collection of Niels Lindberg. Nr. Broby. Funen.)

Provenance: the estate of Niels Lindberg, to a private collection, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Niels Lindberg (1886-1974)
Danish Painter, collector, chairman of the Association of Funen Artists in Odense from 1928-1933 and co-founder of the art exhibition building “Filosoffen” built in Odense 1933. By accounts, Niels Lindberg was very sympathetic to the struggles that emerging artists had and was known for his large private library of art books which was open to the public. Niels Lindberg was also the owner of a paint supplies store from 1912-1945. An old inventory list from the Lindberg estate shows he owned 20 Johnson prints and sketches as well as at least 2 oil paintings.

inscribed top center (in negative area): “Sölvgråt” (Norwegian/Danish for “silvery-gray”)

Josephine Rydeng, Johnson scholar writes:

William H. Johnson. Ballroom interior. ( Savoy ) Pastel on paper. Date ca. 1944-1945

This sketch by William H. Johnson is a loose, expressive study rendered in colored pencil, likely created as preparatory work or as a spontaneous exploration of space, color, and movement.
Its abstracted style and rapid execution suggest it functioned as a visual note, capturing compositional ideas or atmospheric impressions in real time. The drawing reflects Johnson’s intuitive process and his tendency to record fleeting moments with immediacy and energy